Which big bore gun for shooting range fun?

Z

zimm

New member
I'm shopping for a big bore revolver. It will only be used for target shooting and wowing friends. I have a couple glock 40's, a few pocket pistols, and a couple of nice 22's.

I'm torn between a 629 44 mag, a ruger super redhawk in 454 or possibly 480, or if it's worth it, a freedom arms 454. Also open to other suggestions.

I plan to shoot mostly downloaded, lighter recoiling loads such as 44 specials or 45 colts. Probably 50-100 per range session, then probably a dozen full power loads for fun.

I won't be hunting with the gun either.

I handload, so factory ammo won't be used.

I'm not that worried about noise and recoil, but I don't want to experience pain while shooting. Today I was shooting a buddies 4" smith 44 mag mountain gun with full house loads. It was very painful with the hardwood grips.

What do ya'll recommend?
 
The production handgun with the biggest wow factor is the 500 S&W Mag. It's pretty easy to shoot too. The rubber grips help tame it.
 
For plinking, you can't beat a Ruger Super Blackhawk in .44 mag. Fun, strong enough to last a lifetime shooting the biggest/hardest loads, and accurate out to pretty extreme ranges for a pistol. Once I got the sights clicked in, I nailed a car drive side mirror at 150 yards :D

Another thing is the recoil on a 325 gr load is awesome, and the flames are to. Yet the pain factor doesn't exist, since SAA style grip frame makes the gun roll rather than kick like a mule.
 
If you want to wow them with noise, go for the Magnum-itis to your heart's content.

If you want to wow them with a great shooting gun then look for one of the following;
A S&W Model 25 (or pre-M25 1955 Target) with a 6.5" barrel in .45ACP
A S&W Model 625 with a 6" barrel in .45ACP.

These are large frame guns with intimidating looks but the .45ACP rounds fire like .38 match wadcutters - including the +P rounds. The moon clips can be a PITA but there are tools you can use to demoon the cases. Minimal recoil, cool looks and the ability to make one ragged hole at 25 or 50 yards with .45ACP should impress any shooter.
 
Why buy the magnums when the .44 Specials and the .45 Colts will do everything that you want since you don't want the pain of full power magnum loads? As a reloader you can raise the power level over the factory loads and most revolvers in those calibers can handle heavier loads.
 
Why buy the magnums when the .44 Specials and the .45 Colts will do everything that you want since you don't want the pain of full power magnum loads? As a reloader you can raise the power level over the factory loads and most revolvers in those calibers can handle heavier loads.
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I've never seen a .44 special shoot flames, even the keith loads :p

And magnums only hurt out of guns that are to small.. or guns that have poorly designed grip frames...
 
And magnums only hurt out of guns that are to small.. or guns that have poorly designed grip frames...
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Pain is subjective to the shooter and he complained of pain when shooting a friend's MG.

BTW....even a .22lr snub will generate flames....only to be seen at night. ;)
 
True... just in the day light, won't see much with the naked eye :cool:

Though.. I've shot a 4" 629 with factory grips, and after a cylinder load, I used better judgement, and gave the guy his gun back ;)

Try shooting a bunch of guns with full power loads, find the most comfy, and make it even more comfy with rubber grips :D

I would say, try these to be honest:

Ruger Super Redhawk
Ruger Super Blackhawk
S&W 6" 29 or 629
Ruger Redhawk
Taurus Raging Bull

The Raging Bull definatly feels good to shoot, never tried the Tracker in .44. The SRH is comfy, but really ugly. I've already said my piece on the SBH. The 6" 29's are a hoot, and pretty fun with the right grips. The Redhawk is okay looking, but pretty fun(Dad owns one), hard on teh hand with the wood grips, but fine with rubber ones. The Raging Bull is a blast with the long barrel(it was close to 8" I think, been a while), and is very pleasant to shoot.

Try 'em before you buy for sure.
 
I vote for the 44 mag over the other calibers. 44 mag still has lots of wow to it even in the presence of the nucular pistols :D

It's cheaper ammo in any form, available almost everywhere, and is a reloaders delight if you ever decide to go that way.

I have a Redhawk and a Super Blackhawk and for plinking I actually prefer the RH, its more comfortable for me with Pachmayer grips than the SBH. I load on the warmer side and the SBH square triggerguard beats up my middle finger in recoil. Thats my ONLY beef with the SBH. In all other respects its top notch. The RH isnt painful at all to shoot with rubber grips, even with full house loads.
 
I load on the warmer side and the SBH square triggerguard beats up my middle finger in recoil.
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I hear that a lot.. never had that problem though, and I have big hands.. my dad complains about it, so he doesn't shoot it...

Whats the hottest load you've put through yours? A friend gave me a box of 20 reloads he did to try out.. 325grs, he claimed they hit 1200FPS, whether thats true or not, they downright hurt, especially since I use cedar grips..
 
I have a Ruger Super Redhawk in .454 Casull with a 9.5" barrel and with the Winchester 250gr hollow points its pretty easy shooting. Even the 300gr bullets dont bother me any. I love this gun. I just got laid off so I wont be getting any guns until I get back to work or find a different job but the two other handguns I want are a Magnum Research BFR (10" barrel ofcourse) in 45-70 and I also want something in .500 Linebaugh :D
 
Whats the hottest load you've put through yours?
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That would be with a Lyman 429650 300g GC Keith bullet which weighed out at 320g with ww's and 18.0g of 2400 which chrony'd out at 1401 fps avg 10 rounds. This from a 7.5" barrel.

THIS LOAD EXCEEDS BOOK MAXIMUM LOADS SO CANNOT BE RECCOMMENDED!

I never got high pressure signs with this load in my guns and the cases gravity eject. Shot from a steel table make a very convincing gong sound. :D I toned it down some after realizing it was over max and wouldn't really do anything more at 1400 that it will at 1200 or 1250 anyway. I still have some loaded and they are pretty darn accurate too.
 
I like shooting .357 and .44 magnums the most. I really like shooting .44mag out of a Ruger Super Blackhawk Bisley.
 
If you want cheap ammo and to impress folks get the new S+W 460 or whatever they are calling it --- it's a big X frame gun with mega long 45 cases so you can shoot 454 or 45 colt in it as well as "lighter" rounds. At factory ballistics the 460 is touted as the worlds fastest handgun round. Would look quite impressive to the uninformed if you loaded it up with 45 colt cowboy loads and did rapid fire as those around you would see you shoot quick with that massive X frame revolver in your hand.... Or light off the full rated 460 howitzer rounds
 
.44 Mag

Yup, up here in Canada I've been thinking of a .44 Magnum as my next purchase too. Either that or a cheapo unavailable-in-America Norinco Tok 7.62x25 (I hear that round is pretty sporty). I've pretty much figured on a Ruger Redhawk, just looking for a decent used one for a decent price.
 
If you've got the cash : allow me to suggest a Desert Eagle in .50 AE.

It's not quite as insane as the .500 S&W but to all but the hardest-core big bore people it's still a real mother of a gun :)

It's a big, recognizable automatic magnum handgun. With a barrel switch you can go between .50 AE, .44 magnum and .357 mag (note : like the gun itself, the barrels ain't cheap). It's an extremely well built gun, and highly accurate. Don't let rumors of "unreliability" sway you - they're quality firearms.

The downside, not cheap to buy or feed, unless you reload.
 
I have a 629 4 inch that I use for my camping/trail gun. It kicks of course but not too bad, the grips help alot.
What ever you decide on, watch shooting the shorter lighter rounds (in my case .44 special) and then using magnums at the end. I have been doing that and started to have issues with the shells becoming stuck in the cylinder. I would have to wait until they cool to get them out. Not a lot of fun.
 
Thanks for the posts. Looks like I'm shopping for a .44 mag. I'll have to checkout the blackhawk vs. 629 at the gun shop to see what fits my hand. I'll post a question in the reloading section for a good .44 mag plinking load.
 
My 629 "plinker"

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Actually, its my silouette revolver, but it works just as well for kicking cans around. Just a basic Smith 629 Classic, 6.5" barrel that ive had a modest amount of action work done to by S&W's custom shop, and a bushnell multi recticle reddot scope. At 100 yards it will outgroup alot of bigbore rifles. I plan on taking it deer hunting with me later this year. Despite its appearance, its actually a very quick handling revolver and feels very balanced. Even with full tilt magnum reloads, recoil is still very managable. The hogue mono-grips and the extra wight of the full underlug barrel and scope also tame it down a bit. Ive been tossing around the idea of the 500 mag with a similar setup, but theres little it will do that this one wont with the right loads. Either way you go, make sure you get a good reloading setup if you havent already...its the only way you can shoot bigbore handguns without going broke.
 
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